Hey, Brother! Glad you stopped! It's been too damn cold to ride much, so I've been thinkin' on my current "project". When I say thinkin', I mean deciding what to cut off next!
But, "why chop it?" you may ask. Well grab a cup of coffee and let me explain my madness. When I talk about Chopping a Bike, I mean removing all the crap that doesn't make it go faster. I don't use most of that stuff anyway, so why keep it? When you remove all the "fluff", you generally wind up with a lighter, quicker machine that is easier to handle. Not to mention that NOW, you stand out in a mob. Your machine is now modified to suit YOUR needs.
First, you HAVE to understand the "rules" in your particular State. I can't stress that enough! Some States allow removal of accessory lighting, some don't. A quick check on the 'Net will answer most questions. I've also discovered that traveling in other States, if you get stopped, the Cop will usually take into consideration where you come from before impounding your Bike for "missing" equipment.
Now start at the front of your Bike.. What is really unnecessary? The front fork reflectors and brackets! Maybe the whole front fender..? I carry bandanas, so taking a minute to tie one between the forks keeps the rain to a minimum on wet days! Otherwise, you now have a cleaner front end. Fairing? NO WAY! I've been riding when the wind picks up and a fairing catches the breeze WAY too good for me! And I HATE rectangular headlights!! In my opinion a Bike needs a round light! Hell, remove the fairing and you've already lost 20-30lbs!
How about you seat? I ride solo most days, so a HUGE King/Queen saddle is more than I need. And the bars.. I feel more response in a lower set of bars than I do with Apes. Whew!! Halfway there! Do you really require plate sized plastic covers over the sides of your Bike? The fuse panel is simple to move farther inward and under a solo seat! The wiring can also be zip tied to stop it from flapping.
Check your rear fender.. Does it really require ALL that tin, to keep your butt from getting wet? I've found that, as long as you retain about half the fender, you'll be dry as a bone. And a solo brake light mounts PERFECTLY on top of the fender, allowing removal of the "assembly" from the factory. Chain guard?? Yeah, Bye Bye! Rear foot pegs also. Now you have a rough estimate of what you're left with. My Dual Sport 650 came with swoopy plastic bodywork that took 15 minutes of Dremel tool "surgery" to clean up!
Secure loose wiring, move and reattach small components and smooth any rough edges! Make your Bike more compact. The gain in handling performance will AMAZE you! Gas mileage improves slightly and you WILL stand apart from the mob!
Now, would you rather cruise the TOP photo, or this SEXY little street fighter here? Im guessing your Bike has lost approximately 30-35lbs now, and riding pleasure has increased IMMENSELY!
This is just MY idea of Chopping a Bike. I've heard SO many Bikers bitch because they can't afford a Chopper. Well, a Chopper isn't bought, it's CREATED! You can Chop ANY Bike into submission and most Bikes look WAY better thinned down some!
And since you're thinned down, its time for simple, affordable tricks to improve engine performance! (that's for another day though, lol!) Yeah, there's a little bit to think about, but don't sell yourself short! If I can do it, I KNOW you can too! Some of the KOOLEST Bikes out there are homebuilt projects built over a long (Iowa) Winter!
Right on, I know you gotta skee-daddle! When you're ready to make your Bike GROWL, cheaply, come on back for a cup of coffee! ✌🏻